News

Dec. 7, 2021
AFRL celebrates launch of small-sat Ascent to GEO space

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFRL) - The Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate small satellite named Ascent was launched Dec. 7 from Cape Canaveral, Florida as part of the U.S. Space Force’s Space Test Program-3 mission, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket. Ascent
Dec. 2, 2021
AFRL opens state-of-the-art digital Space Legacy Portal exhibit

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO (AFRL) - With a video of the historic 1969 Apollo 11 launch shown on the nearly two-story screen behind him, Dr. Darren Raspa, the Air Force Research Laboratory Phillips Research Site historian, welcomed guests and colleagues to the grand opening of the AFRL Space
Dec. 2, 2021
AFRL upholds 20-year tradition of hosting Thanksgiving feast for pararescue students

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO (AFRL) - As the nation celebrated the 400th anniversary of Thanksgiving, the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy and Space Vehicles Contracting Divisions carried on a 20-year tradition of providing a Thanksgiving feast to the more than 100 Air Force
Nov. 30, 2021
AFRL’s drone killer, THOR wins Popular Science “Best of” award

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is celebrating the success of its counter drone weapon, the Tactical High-power Operational Responder (THOR), after being named the Popular Science “Best of What’s New” in the security category.
Nov. 24, 2021
Air Force Research Lab working to develop future workforce

Ensuring a steady supply of technical and scientific expertise for American industry and innovation has been a national priority since about 1957 when the Soviet Union launched its first Sputnik. Today, however, with the increasingly rapid pace of high technology, the need to attract young people to
Nov. 24, 2021
Air Force Research Lab uses Small Business Innovation Research and Title III programs to deal with supply chain problems

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III programs at Wright-Patterson’s Air Force Research Laboratory have recently resulted in a huge success for two American, family-owned businesses: Minnesota Wire and Conductive Composites. An unanticipated additional
Nov. 23, 2021
AFRL selects 10 universities for prestigious satellite program

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFRL) - The Air Force Research Laboratory’s University Nanosatellite Program (UNP) has selected 10 universities to participate in the upcoming 2-year partnership to design, fabricate and test small satellites.At the recent Flight Selection Review for the program’s
Nov. 22, 2021
AFRL collaborates with Magdalena Ridge Observatory to further space exploration

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFRL) - New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) astronomers are one-step closer to having their own high-powered window to space and the universe, after receiving congressional funding for the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI). The
Nov. 22, 2021
AFWERX Agility Prime – A New Era of Aerospace

ARLINGTON, Texas (AFRL) – AFWERX Agility Prime, launched in April 2020, is the Air Force’s collaborative initiative to work with the industrial base on testing and experimentation, accelerating development of the commercial electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft industry, enabling
Nov. 15, 2021
AFRL Awards Record-breaking $1B Contract to Space Dynamics Laboratory

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has awarded its largest-ever contract for space-related technology development and mission support.The contract, worth up to $1B, was awarded to Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory (USU/SDL) a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) to ensure